Pump plunger



Nov. 6, 1928'. 1,690,687

R. H. LEMMON `PUMP PLUNGER Filed March 22. 1926 Patented Nov. 6, 192,8.

Risas H. Lemmon, or LONG Bnl-long cALrronnIA.

PUMP PLNGER.

Application filed March 22, 1926 ,T his invention relates to Ea pumpplunger and is more particularlyY directed to a pump plunger adapted foruse in oil well `pumps for the pumpingof oil and the like ltrom wells.An object or' this` invention is to provide an oil well pump plunger inwhich 'means are provided ter lubricating bearing surfaces ot' the pump'plunger with the oil pumped from the well" and in which pump a pluralityof operable expandible packing members are provided and adapted to beexpanded outw wardly by means of hydraulic pressure.

Other objects and advantages olf this invention will be apparent fromthe following detailed description et' a preferred embodiment thereof'asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of an oil well pump taken partly in'section and illustrating the pump plunger embodying this invention. yFigure 2 is a fragmental side elevation ot the oil well pump assemblyillustrated in Figure 1 and illustrating the pump plunger in verticalmid-section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation taken substantially on the line 3-'-3 ofFigure 2.`

Figure et is an end elevation taken substantially on the line ll---AofFigure 2. l

In the preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, 1 illustrates a casing such as is ordinarilyemployed in oil wells. A tubing or fluid string 2- is mountedconcentricaliy within the casing 1 and a ump barrel 3 is mountedconcentrically wit iin the tubing 2 at the lower end thereol and isremovably supported at its lower end ll at a barrel anchor 5 and isprovided with an expandible packing member 6 at its upper end. whichpump barrel assembly is 'more particularly described in my copendingapplication, iiled Marc-h 22, 1926, Serial No. 96,486. A pump plunger 7is mounted to reciprocate within the barrel 3 and is suspended thereinon sucker rods 8 which are adapted to be reciprocated by any suitable ordesirable means (not shown).

The pump plunger 7 is preferably of the 'followingconstruction andcomprises a tub ing 9. to the upper end of which tubing 9 a workingvalve cage 10 is screw-threaded as illustrated at the threads 11. A ballvalve member 12 is mounted within the cage 10 on a seat 13. The cage 10is secured to the sucker rods 8 at a sucker rod coupling 14. A sleer'"l5 is screwthreaded to the lower end er the plunger at the la SecuredSerial No. 95.485.

to the lower end of the sleeve 15 at the threads 17 is a valve seatsupporting .member 18 which has a central ybore formed therethrough andsupports at its upper end a valve seat 19 upon which a ball 20`isadapted to seat. A pin 21 ispassed through the sleeve y15 for thepurposes ot retaining the ball 20.

Means are provided for packing the plunger 7 outwardly againstthe barrel3, 'which means are preferably of the follou'iing construction z Aplurality of rings 22, formed of any desirable packing material, aremounted on the plunger 7. The rings 22 are of larger interior bore thanthe exterior diameter of the tubing 9 so as to provide a' space betweenthe rings 22 and the plunger 7. Apluralit-y oit radially opposed slots23 are formed in the tubing 9 immediately behindthe'rings 22 so as toprovide a communication between the central passage oit the tubing 9 andthe space provided between the rings 22 andtubing 9 so as to permit thefluid pumped, such las oil to iow into this space so that when the pumpis operated to pump the oil from the well, the fluid admitted to thespace between Lthe rings 22 and the tubing 9Vwill expandthe rings 22outwardly `against the barrel 3 so as Vto Tprovide a fluid tightconnection. The rings 22 engage the shoulder 24 formed at the upper endofthe sleeve 15 at one end and are secured in position by means of acollar 25 screwthreaded to the tubing 9 at threads 26.

Spaced on the packing assembly provided by the rings 22 on the plunger 7is a second packing assembly 27 which may comprise cups 28 or any otherdesired packing con struction. The cups 28 are mounted upon theplungerd' and are provided with spacers 29 and are maintained inposition by means of an upper spacing collar 30 which is screw--threaded to the sleeve at the upper end and by means of a collar 31screw-threaded to the tubing 9 at the lower end. A lock collar 32 isscrew-threaded to the plunger 7 in position to engage the collar 3()k tolock the same in position. The space provided between the collars 25 and31 provides an oil receiving chamber 33 into which t-he oil pumped bythe plunger is admitted through spaced slots 34 formed in the tubing 9.The oil pumped through the plunger flows outward through the slots 34;into the receiving chamber 33 and lubricates the packings provided bythe rings 22 and cups 28 so as to reduce the -friction between thepacking members' and the barrel and consequently to reduce the wear.

upon the said packing members. The oil in the chamber 33 also provides afluid tight pump which prevents leakage of the oil past the packingmembersupon operation of plungerv the packing 28 should leak, the oilwill tend to flow through the slots 34 into thebore oi' the plunger 7rather than past the packing rings 22 and likewise if onthe down-strokeoic the plunger 7 the rings22 should leak, the oil will tend to pass bythe j -rings 22 and through the ports 34 into the bore ofthe plunger 7and not by the packing cups 28.,

Having fully described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is tobe understood that I do not wish to be limited to the exact detailsherein set forth which may obviouslybe varied without departing from thespirit of lmy invention as setfiorth in the appended claims.

I claim :-v 1. Apump plungercomprising a tube, a

`working valve secured to the upper end oi'k the jtubepa working valvesecured to .the lower end of the said tube, a plurality ofy packingrings of greater interior diameter than the exterior diameter of thesaid tube 1 tube behind the said rings for admitting fluid mounted onthe tube, a retaining collar screw-threaded on `the said tube andengaging the Vsaid rings, slots formed in the said pressure outward tothe spaceprovided by the rings of the tube for expanding the said rings,a second packing asseinblyspaced from the pump so that if on theup-stroke of the day of March, 1926.

Ai-,cooper and above the said packing rings, and a slotted section ofthe said tube intermediate the said packing assemblies, placing thespace between said assemblies in communication with the bore otsaidplunger.

2f. A pump plunger comprising a tube,

upper and lower working valves secured to Abetween said assemblies incommunication with-the bore of said plunger. 3. A valved pumpplungercomprising a tube, a packing assembly including a plud i'ality ofpacking rings of greater interior diameter than the exterior diameter ofthe said tube, a retaining collar screw-threaded on.

said tube and engaging said rings, slots formed in saidtube behind saidrings for admitting luid'pressure outward to the space provided betweentherings and the tube for expanding said rings, a second packing yasfseinbly spaced from and above said packing' rings, anda slotted sectionof said tube intermedi ate.L the said packing assemblies placing thespace therebetween in *communicationy with the bore of said tube.

Signedat Los Angeles, California, this 12 BEES H. LEMMONy

